Deck 16: Historical Research

Question 1

Unlike other types of social science researchers, historical researchers

A) engage in causal inference.
B) are concerned primarily with compiling facts.
C) use subjective judgment to interpret events.
D) discover rather than create data.

Answer 1

discover rather than create data.

Question 2

An overarching goal of historical research is to

A) test recent social science theories against historical data.
B) interpret past events by using current concepts and perspectives.
C) establish as many facts as possible about past events.
D) gain an increased understanding of present-day phenomena by studying past events.

Answer 2

gain an increased understanding of present-day phenomena by studying past events.

Question 3

Compared to historical research in the nineteenth century, contemporary historical research

A) tends to be more factually complete.
B) places more emphasis on the interpretation of historical events.
C) places greater reliance on archival records.
D) relies more on secondary sources.

Answer 3

places more emphasis on the interpretation of historical events.

Question 4

Match each example below with the use of historical research it best illustrates.

-A historian in 2007 examines state department of education regulations passed between 1950 and 1990 for sexist content.

A) Reviewing the literature in a specific area of interest
B) Collecting information concerning past educational practices
C) Sensitizing educators to past practices still in use that require reform
D) Predicting future trends

Question 5

Match each example below with the use of historical research it best illustrates.

-A historian analyzes the textbooks used to teach reading in a particular school district during the last 75 years

A) Reviewing the literature in a specific area of interest
B) Collecting information concerning past educational practices
C) Sensitizing educators to past practices still in use that require reform
D) Predicting future trends

Question 6

Match each example below with the use of historical research it best illustrates.

-A state education association newsletter presents a report card showing how various candidates seeking nomination to run for the U.S. presidency have voted on education-related bills.

A) Reviewing the literature in a specific area of interest
B) Collecting information concerning past educational practices
C) Sensitizing educators to past practices still in use that require reform
D) Predicting future trends

Question 7

Match each example below with the use of historical research it best illustrates.

-A researcher studies reports of research on the relationship between intelligence and socioeconomic status since the first intelligence test was developed.

A) Reviewing the literature in a specific area of interest
B) Collecting information concerning past educational practices
C) Sensitizing educators to past practices still in use that require reform
D) Predicting future trends

Question 8

Reading several historiographical works before undertaking a historical study particularly helps a historical researcher to

A) identify the most appropriate historical sources to obtain.
B) define the problem for the research study.
C) specify the steps and procedures to be used in the research.
D) avoid misinterpretations of historical data.

Question 9

Which of the following is not a typical topic for historical research?

A) Histories of specific individuals
B) Relating past ideas or events that were not previously viewed as related
C) Comparing the objectives of a new curriculum program with those of an old curriculum program
D) Revisionist reinterpretation of past events

Question 10

Revisionist history refers to the study of

A) reform movements within various disciplines.
B) the historical causes of current social problems.
C) past events with the use of new interpretive frameworks.
D) utopian conceptions of education and other social institutions.

Question 11

A useful classification of historical documents is

A) primary vs. secondary.
B) published vs. unpublished.
C) intentional vs. unpremeditated.
D) all of the above.

Question 12

The four main types of historical sources in educational research are documents, quantitative records, relics, and

A) repositories.
B) oral records.
C) instructional devices.
D) electronic databases.

Question 13

In historical research, secondary sources are defined as those documents in which the

A) description is written from an objective viewpoint.
B) individual describing the event was not present at its occurrence.
C) individual describing the event was a direct witness.
D) historian reports events using her own interpretive framework.

Question 14

A researcher doing a historical study in 2007 relies on sources published between 1910 and 1950 to investigate home schooling as practiced by pioneers who went West between 1800 and 1860. This study illustrates the error of

A) excessive use of secondary sources.
B) failure to reconcile discrepant accounts of past events.
C) subjecting existing histories to radically new interpretive frameworks.
D) attempting to work on a broad and poorly defined problem.

Question 15

Recording information from a historical source usually

A) requires reproduction of the entire document.
B) requires computer technology.
C) must be done by an official archivist.
D) is affected by the copyright status of the source.

Question 16

Internal criticism of a historical source involves consideration of all the following except

A) the competence of the historical writer.
B) whether the stated author actually wrote the document.
C) possible indicators of the writer's bias, such as emotionally charged language.
D) the accuracy of the facts presented in the document.

Question 17

Analysis ofcan be of assistance in external criticism of a historical source.

A) the physical document, such as the paper used,
B) the author's biases
C) discrepant accounts of a historical event
D) the individual's personal stake in the events being described

Question 18

Identifying forgeries, originals versus copies, and the date of origin of a historical document are all relevant to theof the document.

A) internal criticism
B) external criticism
C) quantitative analysis
D) historiographical analysis

Question 19

Match each of the following procedures of historical research with the most appropriate example of that procedure.

-Internal criticism of a historical document

A) Collecting evidence to determine whether a historical source is a forgery
B) Judging whether the writer was competent to report on the events described in the source
C) Examining newly discovered historical documents to determine whether they reinforce existing interpretations of events
D) Writing a history of World War II that makes no mention of the Holocaust

Question 20

Match each of the following procedures of historical research with the most appropriate example of that procedure.

-External criticism of a historical document

A) Collecting evidence to determine whether a historical source is a forgery
B) Judging whether the writer was competent to report on the events described in the source
C) Examining newly discovered historical documents to determine whether they reinforce existing interpretations of events
D) Writing a history of World War II that makes no mention of the Holocaust

Question 21

Match each of the following procedures of historical research with the most appropriate example of that procedure.

-Making a synthesis of data

A) Collecting evidence to determine whether a historical source is a forgery
B) Judging whether the writer was competent to report on the events described in the source
C) Examining newly discovered historical documents to determine whether they reinforce existing interpretations of events
D) Writing a history of World War II that makes no mention of the Holocaust

Question 22

Match each of the following procedures of historical research with the most appropriate example of that procedure.

-Revisionist reinterpretation of past events

A) Collecting evidence to determine whether a historical source is a forgery
B) Judging whether the writer was competent to report on the events described in the source
C) Examining newly discovered historical documents to determine whether they reinforce existing interpretations of events
D) Writing a history of World War II that makes no mention of the Holocaust

Question 23

In historical research, an individual's public and private statements that give discrepant accounts of events are best viewed as

A) two sources of data about the person making the statement.
B) a sign of bias or prejudice.
C) an example of antiquarianism.
D) an indicator of the unreliability of observers' accounts.

Question 24

"History means interpretation"implies that

A) there is no discernible objective reality in past events.
B) all accounts and impressions of a past event are equally valid.
C) historians make meaning of the past based on their own interests and experiences.
D) current concepts rarely are useful for understanding earlier practices.

Question 25

The use of current concepts from other social science disciplines

A) is a recent trend in historical research in education.
B) rarely is useful for explaining past educational events.
C) is an alternative to the traditional practice of external criticism in historical research in education.
D) has helped check the movement toward revisionist history.

Question 26

Presentism is the practice of

A) interpreting past events with the use of current concepts and perspectives.
B) subordinating historical facts to the interpretive framework used to explain them.
C) rejecting tradition in favor of change for its own sake.
D) explaining current events in terms of the recent past rather than in terms of long-term historical trends.

Question 27

Historians generally believe that

A) history repeats itself.
B) ideology is the major causative agent in history.
C) historical events are unique.
D) determining the causes of past events is not an attainable objective.

Question 28

Finding consistency in the historical accounts of different reporters assures a historian that she

A) has made the correct causal interpretation of a past event.
B) has studied the entire range of perspectives on the phenomenon of concern.
C) can generalize the findings from examination of a relatively small sample of the available primary sources.
D) has obtained a representative sample of historical sources.

Question 29

The methods of quantitative history have proved to be particularly useful for

A) causal interpretation of past events.
B) making broad generalizations about the past.
C) external criticism of historical sources.
D) measuring individuals' attitudes toward past events.

Question 30

A historical research dissertation includes these chapter titles: "School Choice, 1920-1940"; "School Choice, 1941-1960"; "School Choice, 1961-1980."The historical facts in this dissertation appear to be organized

A) similarly to dissertations involving other types of educational research.
B) consistent with a revisionist historical perspective.
C) in relation to topics or themes.
D) in chronological order.

Question 31

If a student uses concepts and descriptions with strong affective or value connotations in a proposal for a dissertation involving historical research, the student should

A) substantiate them by indicating the sources on which they are based.
B) replace them with more moderate language in the final version of the dissertation.
C) use direct quotes to convey each concept and description.
D) summarize the student's personal experiences that underlie his choice of language.

Question 32

What is the main difference between contemporary and nineteenth-century historical research?

Question 33

State two purposes for studying the past.

Question 34

The initial step in doing historical research is to define the problem or question to be investigated. Briefly describe three subsequent steps that are typical of the historical research process.

Question 35

Beach classified the problems and topics that can be addressed by historical research into five types, including current social issues such as home schooling and the growth of performance tests. Briefly describe and give an example of two other types of historical research problems.

Question 36

List two of the main types of primary sources used in historical research, and give an example of each.

Question 37

Describe the three main types of historical sources used by a historical researcher and the purpose of each.

Question 38

A researcher has identified several primary sources that appear ideal for exploring her research topic. Describe two issues with which the researcher must deal before she is able to collect and record pertinent information from these sources.

Question 39

In examining a document, the historical researcher uses external criticism. (a) Explain what this involves, and (b) state one question that is likely to be asked in an external criticism of a document.

Question 40

In examining a document, the historical researcher uses internal criticism. (a) Explain what this involves, and (b) state one question that is likely to be asked in an internal criticism of a document.

Question 41

Bias in a historical account involves the writer or informant having a strong set to perceive events in such a way that certain types of facts habitually are overlooked, distorted, or falsified. Briefly describe two common causes of such bias.

Question 42

What is presentism, and how can it affect historical research?

Question 43

Name one benefit and one possible drawback of a historical researcher's use of particular concepts to interpret historical data.

Question 44

Explain why it is difficult for historians to attribute a historical event to a single cause.

Question 45

Briefly describe one problem faced by historians in generalizing from their findings.

Question 46

Describe three approaches to organizing the research findings in a historical research dissertation, and give an example of each.

Question 47

A researcher is carrying out historical research about the impact of computers on instruction in the public schools between 1970 and 1990. While the study is primarily qualitative in design, suggest one type of quantitative information that the researcher might wish to report concerning this research problem.

Question 48

A historian plans a research study on how early twentieth-century school officials and psychologists influenced each other with respect to the advocacy of intelligence testing.
a. What concepts does the historian need to define in doing this research, and why?
b. List one factor that will affect the generalizability of the historian's findings.

Question 49

Suppose that you are doing a historical study on the teaching of pseudosciences in U.S. public schools during the period 1870-1899. You find the following article in the April 15, 1891, issue of the Sonoma Farmer, a rural weekly newspaper published in California:Wonders of the Science of PhrenologyLocal citizens attending the County Fair this week are being amazed by Professor Horatio Horton, a leading practitioner of the science of Phrenology. Professor Horton can make infallible analyses of the character and personality of any man or woman by feeling the bumps on the individual's head. Most persons overheard by your reporter agreed that the Professor's analyses of people out of the audience were uncanny.Your reporter interviewed the Professor in his dressing room and learned that he is a leader in the movement to teach Phrenology in the public schools. The Professor himself has taught the science to thousands of students in colleges and high schools throughout most of the civilized nations of the world. Phrenology is now a required subject in the secondary schools of France, Italy and several other European countries. Students in these countries usually devote a year to the study of this valuable science.The Professor strongly recommends that local citizens apply pressure to county officials to bring about inclusion of Phrenology in the local curriculum. He is available to give teachers a short course in the science and has also written several books and pamphlets that would be useful to students. Your reporter feels that adequate training in Phrenology should be provided in our schools as soon as possible. After all, your children are entitled to a modern education.Conduct an internal criticism of this source by listing several reasons why the accuracy of the information in the article can be questioned.

Question 50

Suppose you are doing a study about policies for the allocation of funds to teacher salaries, books and other instructional materials, plant maintenance and operation, and administrative costs in three rural elementary schools during the period 1900 to 1930. One of your main sources for this study is the account books for each school, in which the principals listed by date each expenditure as it occurred and entered a brief description. In studying this source, how would you record the information needed for your data analysis?